France soon offended again, allowing Laidlaw to close the gap back to three, but after that they began to dominate territorially, and Serin was on target with another penalty after 56 minutes.

Fly-half - The No 10 in any team is crucial, but this game throws up an interesting match-up.

Townsend's decision to move Greig Laidlaw to No10 in place of the misfiring Finn Russell for the final quarter was a masterstroke.

"We were a bit more direct in the second half, and we got our rewards".

Laidlaw is reunited with stand-off Finn Russell at half-back, with this Sunday's Test the scrum-half's first Scotland start since being injured in the corresponding fixture previous year in Paris.

"Greig has got a lot of experience".

Beauxis, who has been enjoying a good season with Lyon, started his global career in 2007. The 32-year-old was added to the squad after Matthieu Jalibert's knee ligament injury and his partnership with Maxime Machenaud will be critical.

He struggled for quick ball but grew into the game and was faultless with the boot, kicking 22 points, to lead the fightback.

Bringing in Horne - Alex Dunbar is still unavailable - not only releases Huw Jones to the outside centre role where he is more effective but also, with Laidlaw, a minder on each side for Finn Russell.

France, too, aren't exactly blessed in this department.

"Our fans expect us to nowadays, which is great, but we've got a lot of pressure on us as well, so we need to go into the game, be positive and try to play the same as we've been doing at Murrayfield for the past year". The winger touched down after just two minutes thanks to a brilliant solo run.

France conceded yet another penalty on 70 minutes, which Laidlaw once again punished to put Townsend's team in front for the first time. They will need their defensive line to be just as strong in Edinburgh.

"It's a case of staying patient and playing to the rules", France captain Guilhem Guirado said on French TV. Sebastien Vahaamahina made 19 tackles but let himself down by conceding four silly penalties.

The home side were under pressure to prove they were genuine contenders after being humiliated by Wales in last week's opener. At times Scotland'sdefence was so out of sorts no one was even in a position to make a tackle.

"It was a brutally physical game against them past year, there were a lot of collisions".

"The forwards had a massive game". But then we knew he was going to say that anyway.

So, if you want to watch all the big action here's how to tune in to Scotland v France online.

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